Winnebago High School brought a state title home last year in its first state appearance in 40 years. This year, the team is back and favored to win, and the team's success has lifted the entire Native American community.

A hero's sendoff greeted the team as it prepared to make its way to Lincoln.

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"It kind of makes you feel like a celebrity, knowing there's a lot of people wanting to follow you and watch your team play," Drake Gorrin said.

Players like Gorrin said it's been like that all year long.

"I did not think we had that many fans," Gorrin said. "It seems like every game there is more and more."

There were so many in attendance that the NSAA had to move its first round C2 matchup with West Holt Thursday night to a bigger gym to handle the expected crowd.

"Just the way they hold themselves and have brought people from the outside in to see Winnebago basketball is a good thing," Winnebago Activities Director Adam James said.

Head coach Jeff Berridge said the lessons instilled in his team extend beyond the court.

"Life is a little bit bigger than the game of basketball," Berridge said, "and I'm just trying to teach these boys that hard work, dedication, it pays off when you're done playing basketball."

A number of Berridge's players see opportunities to go to college, like junior forward Dave Wingett, the only returning starter from last year's team, and senior Aspen Lapointe, who transferred from South Sioux City.

"It motivates me even more to get better each and every day," Lapointe said.

The parade Thursday was just a sample of the pride running through the community. The players have become role models for younger kids.

"There's a lot of little kids that look up to them now," Berridge said. "They are not saying, 'I'm going to be the next Kobe Bryant or the next Michael Jordan. I'm going to be next David Wingett, Matthew Wingett.'"